Third Street
Veterinary Hospital, PC
McMinnville, Oregon 97128
Office phone: (503) 472-9418
Esophagostomy
Tube Feeding
Definition
An
esophagostomy tube is a small rubber tube that enters a surgical incision on
the side of the neck. Placement of the
tube through this incision allows food to enter the esophagus and then flow
down into the stomach.. The tube is not
placed directly into the stomach.
One
of the most common uses of the feeding tube is in management of hepatic
lipidosis (“fatty liver” ). Because
anorexia can be a significant problem in sick cats, the tube has application in
many other situations, as well.
Feeding Procedure
A
special food mixture, listed below, is syringed through the tube two to four
times per day. This food is formulated
to meet the cat's nutritional needs; it should not cause vomiting or
diarrhea. To feed your cat, follow
these steps:
1.
Place 3 cans of Purina CNM-CV + 8 oz of water + 2 oz Wesson Oil + 8 Tumil-K
tablets in a blender and run it at the liquefy (fastest) speed for several
minutes until the food is uniformly mixed.
After mixing, pour the food through a kitchen strainer. (Note:
An alternative formula is: 1 can of Feline p/d + 10 oz of water + 2 oz
of Wesson Oil + 8 Tumil-K tablets.)
2.
Remove the cap from the feeding tube.
3.
Using the syringes provided, inject the food into your cat's feeding tube using
the following schedule:
____ ml ____ times per day for ____ days (FOR A
TOTAL OF ____ ml PER 24 HOURS)
then
____ ml ____ times per day for ____ days (FOR A
TOTAL OF ____ ml PER 24 HOURS)
then
____ ml ____ times per day for ____ days (FOR A
TOTAL OF ____ ml PER 24 HOURS)
then
____ ml ____ times per day (FOR A TOTAL OF ____ ml
PER 24 HOURS).
4.
When the food has been injected, inject 2-3 ml of tap water through the tube so
food does not remain in it; replace the cap in the tube.
5.
Any remaining food should be stored in the refrigerator. Before the next feeding, it should be warmed
to body temperature under hot tap water or in a microwave oven. If you heat it in a microwave oven, be sure
to thoroughly mix the contents prior to feeding because of uneven heating. Also, always check the temperature prior to
feeding to be sure that the food is not too hot.
Using the Tube
Patience
and persistence are essential. Some
cats require several weeks of tube feeding before their appetite will
return. At least twice weekly, offer
your cat a small amount of a favorite food so that you will know when its
appetite is improving. The esophagostomy
tube will not hinder chewing or swallowing.
After your cat has been eating well for 3-4 days, it should be returned
to the hospital for tube removal.
Removal of the tube is simple and does not require anesthesia; however,
you should not attempt to remove the tube yourself.